First time home buyer here. I close tomorrow! Yikes!

That said- the house is currently painted a nice, 'safe', beige with some maroon accents. Beautiful yes, but I want to do something completely different.. Simply because I CAN.

The first pic is my master bath. I want to paint the walls a dark grey. I think it would look fab with the white tile/trim. However, I do not currently have plans of changing the cabinets, which are wood. Is this going to look ridiculous?

Same issue with the kitchen.. The previous owner has blue laminate counters (which I want to change, SOMEDAY), and a darker blue tile backsplash. IMO it does not mesh with the cabinet color, or the current wall color. What I want to change right now: I'm going with a wayyy lighter grey in the living spaces/kitchen/etc (with a smokey blue accent wall in living room)

So. Is going to a cooler nuetral color going to be painful to look at with the warm cabinet colors? A kitchen remodel is in my 5 year plan but not tomorrow.

Thanks fellow hometalkers :)

Like | Clip
Like | Clip

33 Comments Displaying 25 of 33 comments | See Previous

Hughena M Canada

Just bought my home about two years ago and chose some really different bright colours. My kitchen is painted yellow with white cupboards and an almost navy countertop. Most people say it is very comforting and welcoming. My office is a rose colour with white trim and curtains - at first I thought I had made a mistake but it is everyone's favourite room in the house.

on Dec 14, 2011 · Like 0
Dan's of Central Florida,... Clermont, FL

Just a general point about paint colors - dark colors in a small area will make it look smaller and more like a cave. Conversely, lighter colors make smaller areas seem bigger.

on Dec 14, 2011 · Like 1
Donna McCrummen Bernardsville, NJ

Great rule of thumb Dan but not always the case. A dark color can add drama to a small space. I once painted a small bathroom black....it was awesome.

on Dec 14, 2011 · Like 3
Ellen H Hamden, OH

You could paint your cabinets... they look to be Builder grade stock. so it wouldn't take away from any value they might have.

on Dec 14, 2011 · Like 0
Sherrie S Debary, FL

Krissy, it is hard for anyone that is not trained to properly design/color a room/house. All you & I know is it doesn't look right. There are others that have a way of looking at it in a different way and making it look perfect.
This homefixes site is wonderful. Ask the same question to the designers on this site and see what ideas you get. I'll be asking about my pink bedroom/bath soon. I decided it would be pink - ...»
now I need someone to help me make the rest of the room (masterbath & bedroom) look really nice.

on Dec 14, 2011 · Like 1
Donna McCrummen Bernardsville, NJ

Good suggestion Ellen. If you chose to paint the cabinets be sure to use paint made specifically for cabinets.

on Dec 14, 2011 · Like 1
Dana N Murray, KY

I have used the designer at my local Benjamin Moore paint store a lot recently to help me with color choices. Her advice is free and has been invaluable! I also found some good ideas for color use on Design Seeds, a blog with nothing but color schemes. The main thing is to have fun making your new house YOURS!
AND painting those cabinets could be a perfect solution for you. I'm painting mine!

on Dec 15, 2011 · Like 1
Sherri H San Ramon, CA

You have received a lot of advice on picking paint. If you want dark grey, which I call charcoal, it should be OK as long as it is a yellow base, not blue with the light wood cabinets--if they are a yellow based wood. We have the remodeled beigey travertine bath and I insisted on including decorative blue and green and turquoise tiny tiles (my favorite colors) which only worked because there were pale ones, too, that picked up the tile base color.

on Dec 15, 2011 · Like 1
Lindsay N

That big mirror can be jazzed up by putting a frame made of your standard trim around it. Simple, cheap, and makes a very big difference!!

on Dec 19, 2011 · Like 1
Mary T

It's way too big! Have it cut down and then put in a nice frame. Will look so much better and blend in.

on Dec 20, 2011 · Like 0
Mary T

Plus the kitchen is boring...make that wall a warm color like an orange-red , then accesorize with similar colors.

on Dec 20, 2011 · Like 0
Krissy C Seattle, WA

Thanks, folks. But my question was paint color. ;) I actually LOVE the mirror. @Linday: I saw a tutorial on that on younghouselove's blog I think. I have been talking to my boyfriend about that idea, because I think it'd look amazing. :-)
We decided we like the grey enough to do it. Gonna get a few shades and see how it goes from there.

on Dec 20, 2011 · Like 1
Harold M Franklin, NC

Personally the color doesn't bother me at all. I like the color. Hanging pictures painting etc, really make a room come alive.

on Dec 20, 2011 · Like 0
Nip Tuck Remodeling Woodinville, WA

Contratulations on your new home! A little paint and some accessories will make this room come alive. Paint is the least expensive treatment you can do to make a big impact. After you are in the house for a while, you may want to change the countertop to a slab which will give you more opotions for contrast.
on Dec 22, 2011 · Like 0
Krissy C Seattle, WA

We figured out after much trial/error that grey will not work for the kitchen at this point. The lighting turns it all sorts of weird colors, and we're done for now. It's going to be white, with some form of interesting wall hanging. The bathroom is still being determined.

on Dec 22, 2011 · Like 0
ToolSelect.com Grand Rapids, MI

Krissy, congrats on the new house! I am sure you have a lot of ideas for your new house. If you need any advice on power tools for your home improvement projects check out our website at http://www.toolselect.com.

on Dec 22, 2011 · Like 0
AJ T Las Vegas, NV

I also just bought my first place and wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS!

on Dec 28, 2011 · Like 1
Kelli M Columbus, OH

I would paint the cabinets white. SW has a color called "Divine White" that is lovely.

on Jan 02, 2012 · Like 0
Krissy C Seattle, WA

Kelli: I'd love to, but that middle panel is vaneer so cannot sand it to prime/paint. Plus, my better half LOVES the cabinets. Since he is more of a cook than I am, he wins. ;-)
This thread was to get input on my selection for the wall color. We've settled on white for the kitchen walls.

on Jan 03, 2012 · Like 2
JoAnn H Milwaukee, WI

I just bought a can of blue paint for my kitchen with your same cabinet colors. If you get tired of white. :) I'm also going to put in a "tin" backsplash. If you google blue kitchens I found some great ones out there. The blue I like is similar to the classic Wedgewood blue. It has a hint of gray, a dusty blue, looks great with cabinets (Think blue jeans and cowboy boots). I have white appliances, light cabinets, soon to be blue walls. Be brave! It's just paint. :)

on Jul 26, 2012 · Like 0
Bfc ReRe B Mc Daniels, KY

oh i would love to get ahold of your house , love the layout .. i decorated french country .. awsome colors .. i love dark wine colors , black , i did my kitchen walls the dark wine , trimmed in a dark tope , then added the other victorian colors in good luck .. would love to see your work P.S eggplant dark is a very pretty color

on Oct 14, 2012 · Like 0
Paint-N-Plus Centreville, AL

Congrats on selecting a color.I would suggest a washable paint for those areas.An eggsheal type finish will do nicly and last for a long time. Would like to mention,On the vaneer.It does not have to be sanded.I would use aproduct called deglosser to wipe it down.Then a good primer,if and when yoy do decide to paint.Good luck

on Oct 20, 2012 · Like 1
BeckySue, Certified Maste... Lawrenceville, GA

Congrats! For your bath - what did you choose? :) I dont see warm clashing with the wood cabinets... gray is the new neutral after all! I recently moved into a new home and I painted my entire main living area, foyer and kitchen Benjamin Moore "Rockport Gray" .. and I love love it ! Gray be day.. and looks more like a taupe at night - just dark enough to give richness to the room. I highly recommend Benjamin Moore Regal Matte Finish - scrubbable! .. more expensive but you will use 1/3 less paint at least

on Oct 21, 2012 · Like 0
BeckySue, Certified Maste... Lawrenceville, GA

wow - just saw this was asked a year ago! Guessing you have already made your choices! ;-0

on Oct 21, 2012 · Like 0
Krissy C Seattle, WA

We painted kitchen walls white for now.. Haven't started on bathroom yet. (other things came up.)
changed appliances to stainless and it looks good :-)

on Oct 21, 2012 · Like 1